BITE user comments - sc597
Comments by sc597
Interesting pub, beers are well kept, nibbles are quite expensive, and there's usually a stunning brunette bar-maid! Worth visiting for the novelty factor of ducking through partition walls, but would get annoying if it were your local I reckon!
9 Jan 2009 00:08
Has anyone been in here for a while? I haven't been in for a couple of years because, like the other reviewers, I experienced such shockingly arrogant and slow service that I vowed never to return. That said, it's a damn good spot, so we can always pray for better. Seems to be owned by a restaurant group now according to their website. Doesn't bode well that beer is listed with snacks (cf all other drinks having their own section), though it does mention HSB along with Pride.
9 Jan 2009 00:05
I can understand the mixed reviews of this place - I have been here many times and also have had ups and downs. The service is very variable - when busy you can be waiting a long time to get a drink. Beer is generally okay though I've had an occasional stale pint of ale when it's been quiet. Food is quite good. Decor interesting - dark with lots of red velvet. They have a theatre upstairs so the crush tends to ease a little when a performance starts. They do bbqs outside in the summer, when people spill out on to the pavement. It's next to the canal but from the pub you don't really have a view.
9 Jan 2009 00:00
The Shipwrights Arms, Faversham
A fantastic pub full of character, with books and marine paraphanalia all over the place. Pub is in fabulous location out on the creek mouth by itself, generator for electricity and toilets in an outhouse. Always a good fire going in winter, and a beautiful spot for a walk in summer.
Landlord is quite a character - don't try to use a mobile or he'll bring his bolt-cutters out and chop it in half (exception allowed - calling a taxi to get back to town from the place!!). As the other review says, there are lots of regulations - one has the impression he is not entirely enamoured with the incumbent government!
The food is not exceptional - just pub grub - cheesy chips etc, though they often are not serving for one reason or another. I suggest ringing in advance to be sure. Beer is straight out of the barrel and of the Goachers variety. Dog friendly and a nice garden for summer. Go by boat if you have one handy!
8 Jan 2009 23:54
The Robert Browning, Maida Vale
A nice place, never too busy, friendly, and Sam Smiths, so you know what to expect in terms of beers - I'm not a particular fan but still end up here regularly - which must say something about the pub. Thai restaurant upstairs is great - it's Ben's that used to be at the Warrington until Gordon booted them out. Also worth a quick look are the pictures and prints adorning the walls - lots of historical interest about the area and canal.
8 Jan 2009 22:47
The Clifton Hotel, St John's Wood
This is one of the best pubs in NW London (imho)! There's no way you'd ever come across it by accident - I lived in the area for many years (pre-BITE days) and never knew about it till a friend took me there. Tucked very discretely into a nice St. John's Wood street, it's invisible until you're a few yards away.
They have a good selection of ales on tap, and well-kept too. For a while they've had some Cornish guests, along with the London staples, always at least three ales available. Food is very good too. There's a bar menu then a restaurant area with posh menu. They're not funny about you sitting in the restaurant area if you're just drinking (as long as it's not busy).
They have a pub quiz on Wednesdays, an outside terrace at the front with the ubiquitous evil heaters, plenty of board games, and a jolly barmaid. I thoroughly commend the place to you!
8 Jan 2009 22:37
The Windsor Castle, Maida Vale
Cute place, shows the rugby, usually has an ale on tap in my experience, tiny front room that is rammed when sport is on. My main complaint is that one of the times I visited the loos were pretty filthy. Otherwise it would be a contender for my favourite pub in the area. If it's too busy you've got the Robert Browning about 10 metres away!
8 Jan 2009 22:30
The Warrington Hotel, Maida Vale
As I live a few yards down the road from this place, I really should be in there all the time. Somehow, though, it is just not the sort of place that you feel affection towards. Sure, it has a fantastic interior (and exterior), and the beer is well-kept. I suppose the food is probably good, though I've never tried any, bit pricey for pub nosh.
I suppose part of my issue is the atmosphere - having bouncers on the doors weekend evenings, the benches outside are silly kid-sized things that can hardly accommodate anyone, they've pulled down the blinds that used to make the inside bearable in the summer evenings when the sun comes round. All sounds niggly, but it adds up to a place that I do still have an occasional beer at, but don't love.
Incidentally "apparently" the building was a brothel in the 1800s, and sitting as it does on "Randolph Avenue" gave rise to the term "randy"!
8 Jan 2009 22:25
Visited for the first time this lunch. Beautiful weather, fabulous spot on the river looking across to North Greenwich, well-kept beer (Abbot, Adnam's Broadside and Bitter on tap) and wonderful history. Service was quite slow though, and the pub was nigh on empty - I hate to think what it would be like if it were any busier. That said, they were fine with us sitting out on the foodie terrace, although again, it was quiet. So, an enjoyable experience, but the jury is still out. I will report again soon, given that my office is just round the corner now!
19 Nov 2008 15:53
This is now the best pub in Sheringham IMHO. Because of its position it doesn't get hit by the tourists as much as other places. They always have a selection of well-kept ales, including those from Wolf Brewery, and the Greene King and Woodford's stalwarts. The place was bought by a chap from Corfu who is busy in the kitchen most of the time but comes out to say hello. The food is excellent, genuine Greek food, including divine meat dishes like slow-cooked lamb, and vegetarian options like moussaka.
13 Oct 2008 16:38
Information: there are signs up in the pub saying that they are no longer opening Sunday evenings, but have extended Sunday lunch opening times till 4pm to compensate.
13 Oct 2008 16:31
Visited here a couple of days ago. Warm and friendly place, with a selection of ales including Woodford's Nelson's Revenge and Greene King IPA. Fairly busy with diners, most of whom seemed to be oldies! We were put in the dark far room to eat which had its own fire going but was quieter. Good food and big portions. Tall chap who seemed to be in charge behind the bar was friendly but slightly maniacal!
13 Oct 2008 16:29
The Carpenters Arms, Marble Arch
Last time I was in here a couple of weeks ago there were 8, yes eight (!) guest real ales on tap. Who needs beer festivals?! Grumpy landlord knows his beer and pulls in barrels from all over the UK, including delights such as RCH beer from Somerset, which otherwise one only sees at the GBBF. He also knows how to pick some lovely friendly barmaids to make up for his temperament, mostly of the Eastern European variety.
The problem used to be the pub being incredibly smokey, this of course has all gone away. It can be fairly busy when there is sport on in the evenings, when things spill outside to the pretty hanging baskets and pub benches on the pavement. There is also the Mason's Arms (without sport) about 20 yards up the road if this is the case. I haven't tried food here before, but looks like standard Brakes grub, and I feel it's not really a food place. Who needs food when you're in one of the best ale pubs in the whole of London?!
30 Jul 2008 01:21
The Old Tea Warehouse, Aldgate
Working round the corner I used to spend a substantial amount of time here. I like the three different "zones" - outside covered patio, old-man and trendy sofa bit., though it's a shame the pool tables have gone from downstairs and I don't like my feeling that the manager is trying to move it from a characterful boozer to just another city wine bar. For now though, the beer is good GK stuff, and it's well-staffed with friendly but mostly inexperienced girls, and importantly has most of my favourite crisps - monster munch, quavers, doritos etc! So overall, in light of recent changes, I'd say it's still a decent place to have a beer, but it's not the destination pub it once was.
9 Jan 2009 00:37